This week's Creative Genius is....

Victoria White from Careford Creations!
Vic uses various mediums to create a beautiful array of gorgeous gifts. From stunning photography to polymer clay, there is something for everyone at Careford Creations.Here Vic discusses her work and what she enjoys most.

So Vic, Tell us abit more about yourself and your craft?
It’s only since the summer that I’ve been able to spend more time doing crafty bits, as I was working as a primary school teacher until then. It’s been great to spend time with my son and become self-employed. As with many crafters, I’ve always loved making things. I think I first started with felt and knitting. Nowadays I take photographs, make photo gifts and lots of different things out of polymer clay. I started taking photographs when I got my first camera for my 9th birthday. I haven’t stopped taking photos since! I decided to start selling them about 10 years ago, although it’s only in the last few years I’ve really done anything about it. Polymer clay is something I came across when I was about 12 and I’ve used it on and off in the 20 years since.
What is your favourite item you have ever made?
That’s a really difficult question! I’m really pleased with this handbound notebook that I made fairly recently. It’s bound using a traditional Japanese stitching method. I love books and Japanese culture so this was the perfect thing for me to make. But then I’m also really pleased with this photo of a falling water droplet. Some photos take hours to set up and shoot and when you get just one or two decent images out of hundreds, it’s a great feeling!
To view vic's favourite creations click the links below:
http://www.folksy.com/items/200710--Pink-Rose-Handbound-Notebook-free-shipping?shop=yes http://www.folksy.com/items/100334--Falling-Water-Droplet-Macro-Photograph-10-x-8-?shop=yes

What do you enjoy most about your craft?
With photography, I love capturing moments that won’t ever be repeated in exactly the same way. I’ve also been into macro photography for just over a year now and find it fascinating to take a shot of something in such detail. With polymer clay, I love experimenting with different techniques. It’s such a versatile medium; it’s wonderful to let your imagination run wild. Although, sometimes I have so many ideas I don’t know where to start!

Where does your inspiration come from?
I never know how to answer this whenever people ask me. I find inspiration everywhere. I might see colours or textures when I’m out or on TV or in a magazine and think how I could use them in a photo. Travelling is always inspirational too – different sights, sounds... Inspiration for polymer clay really comes from anything – animals, structures, colours, food, paintings. I might look at something and think how I could make the same thing, or part of it, out of clay.

Other than craft, what else do you enjoy?
I like reading, although there’s little time for it at the moment. My other favourite thing is travelling, but again, since I had my son 2 and a half years ago, there’s been little time for that either. One thing I do get to do is cooking. I love the fact that I actually enjoy cooking healthy meals for my family! Other than that, I just enjoy spending time with my husband and son and going for walks in the countryside.

What are your views on the handmade community?
I love handmade things! I’ve found the online community to be extremely friendly and always willing to offer advice, especially on Folksy. Sites like Folksy and Etsy have done a huge amount to promote handmade in the last few years.

Apart from yourself, who is your favourite handmade artisan?
That’s another tough one! There really is so many people’s work I admire, but if I have to choose, then I’d say Hide n Seek Illustrations/Hidden Eloise. This was one of the first shops I added to my favourites list, although I haven’t bought anything yet; I just don’t know how to choose! Her illustrations are beautiful. They have a wonderful fairytale feel to them - just the sort of thing I love. She has a shop on Folksy at:
http://www.folksy.com/shops/HiddenEloise/sold


Anything else you would like to say?
Just thanks for interviewing me. It’s been fun!

If you would like to find out more about Vic and her fabulous creations use the links below:
My website is www.carefordcreations.co.uk
My Folksy shop is at http://www.folksy.com/shops/CarefordCreations
My blog is http://www.carefordcreations.blogspot.com/
And my Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=232909866929#!/pages/Careford-Creations/232909866929

Next week Creative Genius will be interviewing another fantastic artisan.Make sure you don't miss out, click and become a follower now!

This week's Creative Genius is.....

Danni from NelliD!
Danni creates beautiful resin pieces and unique bags.Her creations are brimming with a sense of fantasy. Here she tells Creative Genius what inspires her and how the creative community has helped her to set up her successful business.

Tell us a bit more about yourself and your craft?
I think I have always been obsessed with colour, pattern and design...think it started early on. kind of innate within me..my mum used to sew..so I learnt from her.....I studied printed textile design at Saint Martins as a result and my love and obsession has just grown from there.....I also love Britain...to me it is the best country...cream teas, quaint little villages...obscure weather..beautiful coastlines...Royalty...red buses...jam packed full of inspiration..I love it. ~Nelli D, is inspired from all of that, and I guess it never really began per-say..it exists within me.. I have never been or never will be a person who can just sit of an evening..I feel frustrated when I havent got anything to do with my hands.....on a technical note I have been selling for just over a year now but have really been selling my bags for 5 years or so....I taught myself to wrap wire to make jewellery with the aid of books and I took myself off on a road trip one sunday to do a resin course...! (the resin part of nelli D is relatively new....and is growing all the time...my passion at the mo is combining wearable pieces with my bags....a kind of double whammy! Like all real people...I have a day job...I am an art and design teacher...(soon to be in the police) and I fit my work around my spare time...sometimes setting resin before I go to work and before I go to bed....If I think about it I am quite organised...although that rule does not apply to my accounts.! It seems to work well and the fact that I go out each day allows me to think about my business and take a step back...and the kids help...why don't you try this miss or oooo could you make this..so thats great. I have a degree in textile design from Saint Martins so the jewellery side was a little alien to me..it was only when a friends mum convinced me to have a go at making her friend a chunky beaded bracelet that I got into making jewellery..the resin came later. So after buying a few books I learnt the art of wire wrapping techniques and it grew from there......I am a bit of a fig-it and I am always looking for new techniques and different ways to do things....I

What is the favourite item you have ever made?
Oh god I am never satisfied...thats what keeps nelli D alive...I am in a constant battle with myself to make things better... I am however quite happy with my the Alice's tea party bag...which combines the jewellery side of nelli D with the bag side.

What do you enjoy most about your craft?
being totally creative...allowing my imagination to run wild..in any direction....I especially love seeing where an idea takes me! sometimes it can be quite different to what I initially had in mind...so it keeps me on my toes.

Where does your inspiration come from?
I take inspiration from all sorts of things...a sight a sound a smell, I am a bit of an eccentric old romantic so you will find lots of whimsical love stories mixed up with British patriotism and just for measure a dash of punk rock in my creations. Other than craft, what else do you enjoy? I love visiting different cities ...London being my favourite...I love culture and colour and you get buckets of it in london..so I fill my boots whenever I get to go. I also enjoy...rummaging around bootsales and flea markets...hoping to find something a bit different. my other passions are eating out and horse riding...which makes me feel alive.

What are your views on the handmade community?
I love the handmade community: what with the rise in huge corporate companies taking over the highstreet its a breath of fresh air coming onto these sites and seeing what people still make by hand! I love it, and there is so much talent for very very reasonable prices (too cheap actually) ! I would also like to point out all the help I received when I first started out..people on the forums are more than willing to help with my sometimes daft questions, and it has helped me immensely. When I first started I knew nothing about advertising or even branding, and now I can share what I have learnt with others...its a real university of life, not to mention the friends I have made on there..who are always around for a natter and a virtual cup of tea!

Apart from yourself, who is your favourite handmade artisan? and why? if you would like to find out more about NelliD's favourite artisans click the links below:
Oh Gosh what a question! there are so many shops that I love and that are so different but I am going to say: I am at the moment completely in love with Rob Ryan, he makes intricate paper cuts with the most romantic tales, and fairytale quotes: my lovely other half has just bought me a limited edition paper cut and Rob personalised it for me...throwing in a few extras...I couldn't believe it...you wouldn't get that on the highstreet!!
Here is his etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/misterrob

Shedraws:
http://www.folksy.com/shops/SheDraws
because she has helped me no end and makes brilliant items all hand drawn...very clever!
I also love: Amyorangejuice and have my eye on this piece
http://www.folksy.com/items/72640-Hotchpotch-Dartmoor-Church?shop=yes
I wish I could make things with glass..they are beautiful and sorry I know you asked for 1 but I can't resist...here is another artisan that fascinates me:
Lauren ceramics...mostly because once again she produces gorgeous items, that I wish I could make:
http://www.folksy.com/items/256521-Two-ceramic-cup-cake-style-dishes

If you would like to find out more about Danni and NelliD click the links below:
You can find me on twitter rambling on about this and that, with the occasional discount code thrown in!
http://twitter.com/NelliD and if you have a spare minute: here is my blog
http://nellid-settingupmylabel.blogspot.com/
you can also find me on: etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nelliD
and my very own website: www.nellid.co.uk

Next week Creative Genius will be interviewing another fantastic artisan.Make sure you don't miss out, click and become a follower now!